Sort the list alphabetically:
thislist = ["orange", "mango", "kiwi", "pineapple", "banana"]
thislist.sort()
print(thislist)
Sort the list numerically:
thislist = [100, 50, 65, 82, 23]
thislist.sort()
print(thislist)
Sort the list descending:
thislist = ["orange", "mango", "kiwi", "pineapple", "banana"]
thislist.sort(reverse = True)
print(thislist)
Sort the list descending:
thislist = [100, 50, 65, 82, 23]
thislist.sort(reverse = True)
print(thislist)
Sort the list based on how close the number is to 50:
def myfunc(n):
return abs(n - 50)
thislist = [100, 50, 65, 82, 23]
thislist.sort(key = myfunc)
print(thislist)
Case sensitive sort: (brings unexpected result)
thislist = ["banana", "Orange", "Kiwi", "cherry"]
thislist.sort()
print(thislist)
Perform a case-insensitive sort of the list:
thislist = ["banana", "Orange", "Kiwi", "cherry"]
thislist.sort(key = str.lower)
print(thislist)
Reverse the order of the list items:
thislist = ["banana", "Orange", "Kiwi", "cherry"]
thislist.reverse()
print(thislist)
Make a copy of a list with the copy() method:
thislist = ["apple", "banana", "cherry"]
mylist = thislist.copy()
print(mylist)
Make a copy of a list with the list() method:
thislist = ["apple", "banana", "cherry"]
mylist = list(thislist)
print(mylist)
Make a copy of a list with the : operator: (slice operator)
thislist = ["apple", "banana", "cherry"]
mylist = thislist[:]
print(mylist)
Join two list:
list1 = ["a", "b", "c"]
list2 = [1, 2, 3]
list3 = list1 + list2
print(list3)
Append list2 into list1:
list1 = ["a", "b" , "c"]
list2 = [1, 2, 3]
for x in list2:
list1.append(x)
print(list1)
Use the extend() method to add list2 at the end of list1:
list1 = ["a", "b" , "c"]
list2 = [1, 2, 3]
list1.extend(list2)
print(list1)
Sets
- Sets are used to store multiple items in a single variable.
- A set is a collection which is unordered, unchangeable*, and unindexed.
- Sets are written with curly brackets.
* Note: Set items are unchangeable, but you can remove items and add new items.
Create a Set:
thisset = {"apple", "banana", "cherry"}
print(thisset)
True and 1 is considered the same value:
thisset = {"apple", "banana", "cherry", True, 1, 2}
print(thisset)
False and 0 is considered the same value:
thisset = {"apple", "banana", "cherry", False, True, 0}
print(thisset)
Get the number of items in a set:
thisset = {"apple", "banana", "cherry"}
print(len(thisset))
What is the data type of a set?
myset = {"apple", "banana", "cherry"}
print(type(myset))
Using the set() constructor to make a set:
thisset = set(("apple", "banana", "cherry")) # note the double round-brackets
print(thisset)
Loop through the set, and print the values:
thisset = {"apple", "banana", "cherry"}
for x in thisset:
print(x)
Check if "banana" is present in the set:
thisset = {"apple", "banana", "cherry"}
print("banana" in thisset)
Check if "banana" is NOT present in the set:
thisset = {"apple", "banana", "cherry"}
print("banana" not in thisset)
Add an item to a set, using the add() method:
thisset = {"apple", "banana", "cherry"}
thisset.add("orange")
print(thisset)
Add elements from tropical into thisset:
thisset = {"apple", "banana", "cherry"}
tropical = {"pineapple", "mango", "papaya"}
thisset.update(tropical)
print(thisset)
Add elements of a list to at set:
thisset = {"apple", "banana", "cherry"}
mylist = ["kiwi", "orange"]
thisset.update(mylist)
print(thisset)
Remove "banana" by using the remove() method:
thisset = {"apple", "banana", "cherry"}
thisset.remove("banana")
print(thisset)
Remove "banana" by using the discard() method:
thisset = {"apple", "banana", "cherry"}
thisset.discard("banana")
print(thisset)
Remove a random item by using the pop() method:
thisset = {"apple", "banana", "cherry"}
x = thisset.pop()
print(x)
print(thisset)
The clear() method empties the set:
thisset = {"apple", "banana", "cherry"}
thisset.clear()
print(thisset)
The del keyword will delete the set completely:
thisset = {"apple", "banana", "cherry"}
del thisset
print(thisset)
Loop through the set, and print the values:
thisset = {"apple", "banana", "cherry"}
for x in thisset:
print(x)
Join Sets
There are several ways to join two or more sets in Python.
- The union() and update() methods joins all items from both sets.
- The intersection() method keeps ONLY the duplicates.
- The difference() method keeps the items from the first set that are not in the other set(s).
- The symmetric_difference() method keeps all items EXCEPT the duplicates.
Join set1 and set2 into a new set:
set1 = {"a", "b", "c"}
set2 = {1, 2, 3}
set3 = set1.union(set2)
print(set3)
Use | to join two sets: (pipe symbol)
set1 = {"a", "b", "c"}
set2 = {1, 2, 3}
set3 = set1 | set2
print(set3)
Join multiple sets with the union() method:
set1 = {"a", "b", "c"}
set2 = {1, 2, 3}
set3 = {"John", "Elena"}
set4 = {"apple", "bananas", "cherry"}
myset = set1.union(set2, set3, set4)
print(myset)
Use | to join two sets:
set1 = {"a", "b", "c"}
set2 = {1, 2, 3}
set3 = {"John", "Elena"}
set4 = {"apple", "bananas", "cherry"}
myset = set1 | set2 | set3 |set4
print(myset)
Join a set with a tuple:
x = {"a", "b", "c"}
y = (1, 2, 3)
z = x.union(y)
print(z)
The update() method inserts the items in set2 into set1:
set1 = {"a", "b" , "c"}
set2 = {1, 2, 3}
set1.update(set2)
print(set1)
Keep ONLY the duplicates
- The intersection() method will return a new set, that only contains the items that are
present in both sets.
Example
Join set1 and set2, but keep only the duplicates:
set1 = {"apple", "banana", "cherry"}
set2 = {"google", "microsoft", "apple"}
set3 = set1.intersection(set2)
print(set3)
Use & to join two sets:
set1 = {"apple", "banana", "cherry"}
set2 = {"google", "microsoft", "apple"}
set3 = set1 & set2
print(set3)
Keep the items that exist in both set1, and set2:
set1 = {"apple", "banana", "cherry"}
set2 = {"google", "microsoft", "apple"}
set1.intersection_update(set2)
print(set1)
Join sets that contains the values True, False, 1, and 0, and see what is considered as
duplicates:
set1 = {"apple", 1, "banana", 0, "cherry"}
set2 = {False, "google", 1, "apple", 2, True}
set3 = set1.intersection(set2)
print(set3)
Keep all items from set1 that are not in set2:
set1 = {"apple", "banana", "cherry"}
set2 = {"google", "microsoft", "apple"}
set3 = set1.difference(set2)
print(set3)
Use - to join two sets:
set1 = {"apple", "banana", "cherry"}
set2 = {"google", "microsoft", "apple"}
set3 = set1 - set2
print(set3)
Use the difference_update() method to keep the items that are not present in both sets:
set1 = {"apple", "banana", "cherry"}
set2 = {"google", "microsoft", "apple"}
set1.difference_update(set2)
print(set1)
Keep the items that are not present in both sets:
set1 = {"apple", "banana", "cherry"}
set2 = {"google", "microsoft", "apple"}
set3 = set1.symmetric_difference(set2)
print(set3)
Use ^ to join two sets:
set1 = {"apple", "banana", "cherry"}
set2 = {"google", "microsoft", "apple"}
set3 = set1 ^ set2
print(set3)
Use the symmetric_difference_update() method to keep the items that are not present in both
sets:
set1 = {"apple", "banana", "cherry"}
set2 = {"google", "microsoft", "apple"}
set1.symmetric_difference_update(set2)
print(set1)
Dictionary
- Dictionaries are used to store data values in key:value pairs.
- A dictionary is a collection which is ordered*, changeable and do not allow duplicates.
- Dictionaries are written with curly brackets, and have keys and values:
Create and print a dictionary:
thisdict = {
"brand": "Ford",
"model": "Mustang",
"year": 1964
}
print(thisdict)
Print the "brand" value of the dictionary:
thisdict = {
"brand": "Ford",
"model": "Mustang",
"year": 1964
}
print(thisdict["brand"])
Duplicate values will overwrite existing values:
thisdict = {
"brand": "Ford",
"model": "Mustang",
"year": 1964,
"year": 2020
}
print(thisdict)
Print the number of items in the dictionary:
print(len(thisdict))
Print the data type of a dictionary:
thisdict = {
"brand": "Ford",
"model": "Mustang",
"year": 1964
}
print(type(thisdict))
Using the dict() method to make a dictionary:
thisdict = dict(name = "John", age = 36, country = "Norway")
print(thisdict)
Get the value of the "model" key:
thisdict = {
"brand": "Ford",
"model": "Mustang",
"year": 1964
}
x = thisdict["model"]
Get the value of the "model" key:
x = thisdict.get("model")
The keys() method will return a list of all the keys in the dictionary.
Example
Get a list of the keys:
x = thisdict.keys()
The list of the keys is a view of the dictionary, meaning that any changes done to the dictionary will
be reflected in the keys list.
Example
Add a new item to the original dictionary, and see that the keys list gets updated as well:
car = {
"brand": "Ford",
"model": "Mustang",
"year": 1964
}
x = car.keys()
print(x) #before the change
car["color"] = "white"
print(x) #after the change
Get a list of the values:
x = thisdict.values()
The values() method will return a list of all the values in the dictionary.
Example
Get a list of the values:
x = thisdict.values()
The list of the values is a view of the dictionary, meaning that any changes done to the dictionary
will be reflected in the values list.
Example
Make a change in the original dictionary, and see that the values list gets updated as well:
car = {
"brand": "Ford",
"model": "Mustang",
"year": 1964
}
x = car.values()
print(x) #before the change
car["year"] = 2020
print(x) #after the change
Add a new item to the original dictionary, and see that the values list gets updated as well:
car = {
"brand": "Ford",
"model": "Mustang",
"year": 1964
}
x = car.values()
print(x) #before the change
car["color"] = "red"
print(x) #after the change
Get a list of the key:value pairs
x = thisdict.items()
The returned list is a view of the items of the dictionary, meaning that any changes done to the
dictionary will be reflected in the items list.
Example
Make a change in the original dictionary, and see that the items list gets updated as well:
car = {
"brand": "Ford",
"model": "Mustang",
"year": 1964
}
x = car.items()
print(x) #before the change
car["year"] = 2020
print(x) #after the change
Add a new item to the original dictionary, and see that the items list gets updated as well:
car = {
"brand": "Ford",
"model": "Mustang",
"year": 1964
}
x = car.items()
print(x) #before the change
car["color"] = "red"
print(x) #after the change
Check if "model" is present in the dictionary:
thisdict = {
"brand": "Ford",
"model": "Mustang",
"year": 1964
}
if "model" in thisdict:
print("Yes, 'model' is one of the keys in the thisdict dictionary")
Change the "year" to 2018:
thisdict = {
"brand": "Ford",
"model": "Mustang",
"year": 1964
}
thisdict["year"] = 2018
Update the "year" of the car by using the update() method:
thisdict = {
"brand": "Ford",
"model": "Mustang",
"year": 1964
}
thisdict.update({"year": 2020})
Adding an item to the dictionary is done by using a new index key and assigning a value to it:
ExampleGet your own Python Server
thisdict = {
"brand": "Ford",
"model": "Mustang",
"year": 1964
}
thisdict["color"] = "red"
print(thisdict)
Add a color item to the dictionary by using the update() method:
thisdict = {
"brand": "Ford",
"model": "Mustang",
"year": 1964
}
thisdict.update({"color": "red"})
The pop() method removes the item with the specified key name:
thisdict = {
"brand": "Ford",
"model": "Mustang",
"year": 1964
}
thisdict.pop("model")
print(thisdict)
The popitem() method removes the last inserted item (in versions before 3.7, a random item is
removed instead):
thisdict = {
"brand": "Ford",
"model": "Mustang",
"year": 1964
}
thisdict.popitem()
print(thisdict)
The del keyword removes the item with the specified key name:
thisdict = {
"brand": "Ford",
"model": "Mustang",
"year": 1964
}
del thisdict["model"]
print(thisdict)
The clear() method empties the dictionary:
thisdict = {
"brand": "Ford",
"model": "Mustang",
"year": 1964
}
thisdict.clear()
print(thisdict)
Print all key names in the dictionary, one by one:
for x in thisdict:
print(x)
Print all values in the dictionary, one by one:
for x in thisdict:
print(thisdict[x])
You can also use the values() method to return values of a dictionary:
for x in thisdict.values():
print(x)
You can use the keys() method to return the keys of a dictionary:
for x in thisdict.keys():
print(x)
Loop through both keys and values, by using the items() method:
for x, y in thisdict.items():
print(x, y)
Make a copy of a dictionary with the copy() method:
thisdict = {
"brand": "Ford",
"model": "Mustang",
"year": 1964
}
mydict = thisdict.copy()
print(mydict)
Make a copy of a dictionary with the dict() function:
thisdict = {
"brand": "Ford",
"model": "Mustang",
"year": 1964
}
mydict = dict(thisdict)
print(mydict)
Nested Dictionaries
A dictionary can contain dictionaries, this is called nested dictionaries.
Create a dictionary that contain three dictionaries:
myfamily = {
"child1" : {
"name" : "Emil",
"year" : 2004
},
"child2" : {
"name" : "Tobias",
"year" : 2007
},
"child3" : {
"name" : "Linus",
"year" : 2011
}
}
Create three dictionaries, then create one dictionary that will contain the other three
dictionaries:
child1 = {
"name" : "Emil",
"year" : 2004
}
child2 = {
"name" : "Tobias",
"year" : 2007
}
child3 = {
"name" : "Linus",
"year" : 2011
}
myfamily = {
"child1" : child1,
"child2" : child2,
"child3" : child3
}
Access Items in Nested Dictionaries
To access items from a nested dictionary, you use the name of the dictionaries, starting with the
outer dictionary:
Example
Print the name of child 2:
print(myfamily["child2"]["name"])
Loop through the keys and values of all nested dictionaries:
for x, obj in myfamily.items():
print(x)
for y in obj:
print(y + ':', obj[y])
